davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
, 1887-11-11

the lot which your oppressors have as
signed to them. They demanded bread
and they gave them lead for an answer,
mindful of the fact that thus people are
most effectively silenced. You have for
many, many years endured every hum
lllatlon without protest; have drudged
from early in the morning till late at
night; have suffered all sorts of prlva-
tlons, have even sacrificed your children.
You have done everything to fill the cof-
terS OF your masters everything for
them, and now, when you approach
them and implore them to make your
burden a little lighter, as a reward for
your sacrifices they send their blood
houuds-the police-at you in order to
cur you, with bullets, of your dissatisfac-
ton. Slaves, we ask and c~onju1e you, by
all that is sacred and dear to you, avenge
the atrocious murder which has been com
mitted on your brothers to-day, and
which will likely be committed upon you
tomorrow. Laboring men, Hercules,
you have arrived at the crossway. Which
way will you decide2 For slavery and
hunger or for freedom and bread2 If you
decide for the latter, then do not delay a
moment; then. people, to armsl This
must be your motto. Think OF the
heroes, whose blood has fortified the road
to progress, liberty and humanity, and to
strive and become worthy of them.
your BROTHERS,"
Neebe and other notables of the |. A.A.
took horses, and in person scattered the
circulars broadcast, not failing to leave
copies with the rank and file of the Inter
national armed sections gathering in
Greit's hall, "a West Lake street. That
the circular gave the impulse to the action
of the armed sections at this Monday
night meeting, and inspired the adoption
of
THE PLAN OF BOMB-THROWING
agreed upon, is apparent from the fact
that its contents were first fully discussed.
Then the complete detailed plan of the
particular method of inaugurating the
wholesale murder for which they origin
ally organized was formally considered
and adopted, the time for the slaughter
being left for the Arbeiter Zeifung to des-
ignate by publishing the signal word
''ruhe" (peace). This latter feature was
the work of Adolph Fischer, who had
come to the meeting straight from the
Arbe,ter Zettmn0, where he had been as
s~isting Spies and Schwab. That Fischer
was carrying out the plans of his supe-
riors appears more clearly from the cir
cumstances that 1t was he who
MANEUvRED VI ARMED SECTIONS -
Out of their idea of holding the Hay
market meeting in the morning instead of
at night, as Spies and the other leaders
had decided.
, 1887-11-11

opened his eyes, looked steadfastly at the
captain, and nodded his head. The rags
and strings of flesh that hung to his face
waved to and fro at the captain. and
almost overcome he left the room.
The scene in Lingg's cell after the ex-
plosion was CHASTITY Teeth, bits of jaw
bone, shreds of flesh and blood were scat
tered all over the narrow compartment.
A little trail of blood marked the a
over a stone tagging to the room where
Lingg was carried.
Within fifteen minutes after the explo-
sion Fischer, Parsons and Engel were
taken from their cells and searched in the
%jailor's private Office. All their clothing
was taken from them and new suits were
given them. The sheriff says Lingg was
stripped and carefully searched yesterday
and the day before. The news of Lingg's
dreadful deed created the most profound
excitement at the sheriff's office. Large
numbers of people of all descriptions
crowded into the office, eagerly inauiring
as to the particulars of the event. The
news of Lingg's deed spread through the
city like a flash.
HOW H OTHERS TOOK IT.
Jailer Folz was the n who carried the
news that Llngg had used such desperate
means to make away with himself to the
other anarchists. The iailer approached
Parsons cell. "Lingg has killed him
SELF" said Mr.. Folz, Great God, is
that SOP" exclaimed Parsons. 'Y es, it's
a fact" was the reply. well, my
Godl' exclaimed Parsons. 81 wish my
self l had some'dynamite. L would kill
myself only too quickly"
August Spies was then informed of
the tragedy. II expected nothing else" "
said Spies quietly. Ever since the find
ing of the bombs in his cell last Sunday |
was satisfied that If it was possible he
would make away with himself. For my
own and comrades sake, I'm glad he's
out of the way" According to Jailer
Folz, all of the remaining anarchists are
completely broken down. They look on
the suicide Of Lingg as placing him In the
category of extreme anarchists, which
place they do not wish to occupy them
selves. Schwab became deeply depressed.
He walked up and down his cell with his
head OH his breast. Engel and Fischer
refused to talk to their keeper, but were
evidently overwhelmed by the tragedy.
, 1887-11-11

cldedly uncanny scene with its scattered
groups Of gesticulating, trampish looking
occupants lining the sidewalks and pour
ing in and out of the rickety surrounding
saloons. The Arbeiter Zeitun1 confer
ence of leaders had been a prolonged one,
and when at last Spies, Parsons, Fielden
and the rest reached the Haymarket
Square they seemed
BENT ON A WAITING GAME.
1t will probably never be known
whether the evident hesitancy was caused
by the delay of Lingg's confederates, a
proposed abandonment of the outbreak,
or the hope that the police would attack
and attempt to dispense the dangerous
looking crowd before the speaking should
begin, thus relieving the leaders from ap-
pearing to incite riot.
Finally, an hour and a half late, Spies,
Parsons and Fielder addressed the crowd
in the order named, using a wagon for
their rOstrum. The first two. in compar-
lson with their usual harangues, were
tame as a pair of doves. Gradually the
crowd thinned out. No police interfered,
and the chance the reds" had waited
months for was nearly gone. The meet
ing would be a laughing stock to the
public, the leaders would be discredited
by wen their own ilk, and
TIE RUHE-sIGNAL
would mean not the social revolution
begun, but the International Association
COLLAPSED.
, 1887-11-11
A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION.
Wild Work at the Famous Mccormick
Factory Strike.
OFFICIAL INDIFFERENCE,

The Arbeiter Zeitung, of which Spies
and Schwab were the editors and mana
gers, called together the armed men who
were to engage in this specific compact to
murder.
The Sunday evening edition, published
a few hours after the Bohemian hall meet
ing, contained this cabalistic legend. "Y
-Komme Montag Abend." V-Come
Monday night. This was the summons
OF the armed sections to meet, as they
did, Monday night at Greifs. The call
was published again Monday afternoon,
indicating the importance of the matters
to Come before the meeting. The Sunday
issue of the Arbejter had a significant ar
ticle, urging quick and immediate action"
adding: By Monday or Tuesday the con-
fict must haze reached its highest intensity,
else success l0iU then be doubtful" Al
most before the ink on this could dry,
Spies was at the Sunday afternoon meet,
ing of the Central Labor Union arrang-
ing to have himself dispatched to Nc
Oormick's factory the following day to
address the thousands of strikers out
along the old Black road.
From the top of a freight car on the
prairie near Mccormick next afternoon
-Monday-Spies belched into the ears
ofil2, 900 excited strikers, mostly foreign
ers, the hottest harangue ever uttered by
him in public. He spoke in the German
language, of which he is more master
even than of English. The effect Of his
words was like magic.
ION To M'CoRMCK's!'
was the cry. The maddened horde, urged
forward by Spies, Lingg and'other daring
anarchists present, rushed at the great
factory like so many wild beasts. They
bad caught up powders and clubs on the
way, and in an instant the thousand win
dows OF the factory were being shivered
in countless fragments. Then it was that
patrol wagons loaded with police, the
horses covered with foam, dashed through
the crowd from behind. 1t is admitted
by Spies that he ordered the mob, many
of whom were h%ourishing revolvers, to
resist the attempt Of the police to quell
the riot. OF course the victors were the
police, bu: that to Spies, according to his
own accounts, was not of main concern.
The blood of worklngmen had been
drawn, and when he satisfied himself that
such a result was produced, the anarchist
leader withdrew, though the battle was
at its height.
, 1887-11-11
FINAL PREPARATIONS.
Arranging for the Closing scsne of he
Tragedy.

The erection of a scaffold was begun at
l0:l5 O'Clock. The first intimation that
newspaper men had of it was the falling
of heavy boards. Then came the blows
of hammers, and each one was distinctly
heard In the dead quiet which prevailed.
The gallows was put up in the northeast
corridor of the jail, where for many years
all Cook county hangings have taken
place. The scatfold is the same as that
used In the hanging of the three Italian
murderers. but has been heightened for
the purpose of swinging off the four
anarchists at once. 1t is painted a dead
brown color.
A few minutes after ii o'clock Deputy
Peters came out from his tour of duty
with Engel, with the air of a man who
had Just lett IN agreeable entertainment.
The cause of this was discovered to be to
he select assortment of funny stories
with which Engel had RECALLED him.
Up to 1870 a IN. everything is quiet
throughout the city. and no Indications of
a disturbance has been reported from any
quarter. The fact that the authorities
have taken every %precaution to prevent
trouble, and are fully prepared for any
emergency, is almost a guarantee that
everything will pass off quietly to-day.
Deputy Sheriff Adolph Mueller had a
talk with Fischer and Engel during the
evening. Mueller says that the two men
discussed Lingg's suicide freely. Both of
them declared that they wished they had
a chance to follow Lingg's example. They
would infinitely prefer to take their W
lives than to suffer the shameful death
allotted to them.
At ii O'Clock, after refusing religious
consolation, Spies lay down on his cot and
closed his eyes, but he did not sleep.
Several times he got up for a drink Of
water, but his every movement ~betokened
a 6rmness which was astonishing.
So 1t was with the rest of the anar-
chists. Parsons had the nerve to enter
tain his guard with a song His selection
vas Annie Laurie" He sang the
sweet song entirely through, and when he
finished rested his head on his hands for
a few moments and then repeated the
song.
Between | and . o'clock the sheriff and
assistants tested the gallows. Heavy
bags of sand were attached to the ropes
and the traps were sprung. The machine
worked to perfection, and in all respects
was satisfactory to the authorities. Then
an unusual quiet prevailedlin the Jail. The
only noise in the cell room was the low
voices of a few reporters, the turning of
a kew in a lock, or the rapid ticking of
the telegraph instrument which was tell
ing the world of the last hours of the
four anarchists.
, 1887-11-11
SUBSEQU =NT EVENTS.
The Tortuous Road Which Led 10 the
Foot Of the ScaffoId.

The sequel has stretched out to-day.
Foremost it includes the death of seven
bomb slain police, and the slow recovery
OF sixty officers wounded. The immediate
arrest of all the chief indicators, barring
Parsons alone, was followed by their
prompt arraignnent for murder June 81,
before Judge Joseph Il. Gary, who proved
himself as able as he is worthy. The es-
cape of Schnaubclt, the actual thrower of
the bomb, who was set free before his
importance had been suspected, was a
blunder only eQualed by the mistake on
the opposite side when Parsons made his
sensational voluntary surrender.
II FIRST "a II COURT.
Two months precisely was the length OF
the trial, engrossing from day to day the
attention of the civilized world. What
ever legal talent could do was exhausted
by the defense under the direction of
Capt. Black, while States Attorney Grin
nell directed the prosecution with a skill
reaching every point.
Death sentences for all but Neebe, and
the penitentiary for him; the tour of
American cities by European socialists,
Liebknccht, the German parliamentarian,
and Aycliug, the English scientist, in an
an attempt to give prestige to the con
demned and gain sympathy for them; the
effort to make sentimentalism have an
effect through the ostcntatious l)ve-mak-
ing of Spies and Miss Van Zandt, and
their subsequent proxy marriage-all
these followed each other in rapid success
sion. Next came the introduction of the
anarchists cause as an issue in Chicago
politics, resulting in the crushing
DEFEAT OFTHE Red FLAG
advocates. Abraham Lincoln's x-partner,
Leonard Sweet, presenting the defend
ants case to the supreme court of Ill nois
created a new sensation, but his efforts
were no more effective than subsequent
ones for the "rcds,' by Gen. Butler,
Roger Pryor and j. Randolph Tucker be-
fore the highest court of the nation.
George Francis Train and his queer ex-
PLOTS were in singular contrast with the
grave legal proceedings and the bitter
struggles in the trades unions.
The splits caused by friends of the con-
demned in two of the greatest brother
hoods in the world-Knights of Labo.
and Turners-have had far reaching
effects, but the attention of people at
large has been much more strongly ar
rested by the vents Of the past few days.
Beginning with Parsons extraordinary
demand for liberty complete or death,
and Spies equally surprising appeal for II
little lease of life, everything seems to
have combined, if possible, to make this
period exceed in world wide interest the
days of the Haymarket massacre.
, 1887-11-11
EXPECTATIONS UNREkLIzED.
The Pivotal Haymarket Meeting Throat
ems to Fall Flat.

twenty-five thousand people, the anar-
chist leaders estimated, would be gath
cred together in the Haymarket. This
was not an cxtravagant expectation when
1000 had been so easily massed near
McCormick's. But fear of further riot
ing kept pretty much everybody at home
except about 1000 men, nearly all of
them Enthusiastically anarchists, Undoubt-
eddy the smallncss Of the crowd made the
anarchist leaders pause. The social
revolution backed by a mob OF workmen
5000 strong, had changed to a prospec-
tive fight between anarchists alone on the
one side, and the police in force ON the
other. 1t was evident to the most casual
spectator in the Haymarket that a hitch
existed somewhere, and apparently the
meetings managers were all completely at
sea.
The great dim lighted square was a de.
, 1887-11-11
H COMPUTATION.
How 1t was Received at the Jail and
Elsewhere.

CHICAGO, Nov. lU.-When the news
of the Communication of the sentence of
Fielder and Schwab was received at the
Jail, there was an extraordinary scene of
activity. The news was sent to the rela-
tives of all the condemned men, and in a
short time they began to arrive at the
Jail. The first of the women to come
was Mrs. Schwab. Soon after Schwab
was brought from his cell to the main
office. His wife quickly advanced to him,
and throwing her arms about his neck
burst into tears. Schwab returned the
embrace in a calm manner, and soon the
two were chatting quietly together. After
this Spies and Fischer were brought
from their cells and taken to the jail
library. Engel was brought to the pri-
vate office of Mr.. Folz. This was done
for the purpose of allowing the relatives
to take their last interviews. The first
one of the women to arrive after Mrs.
Schwab was Miss Engel, the daughter of
the condemned anarchist. When the
two met IN the private Office there was an
outburst of grief which 1t is impossible to
describe. Father and daughter chung to
each other and sobbed couvulsively. Their
conversation was in German and listened
to only by Deputy Oleson Then came
Mrs. Spies, the mother of August. She
had been waiting outside for an hour, and
her sobs could be heard through the cor
ridors of the building. She did not stay
, 1887-11-11

The city authorities affected for some
reason to ignore all ebullitions of the mob.
AS a result of this
OFFICIAL INDIFFERENCE,
when the time came at last for the eight
hour labor disturbances and the simulta-
neous inauguration of the secretly cher
ished revolution, " the anarchists were a
power indeed, and the police were ignor-
ant of danger. 1t is true that the CHI
cage papers contained timely intimations
of the plots, but owing to the peculiar at
titude of the high municipal authorities,
the articles were treated as rank sensa-
tlonalism.
Just one day before the time set for the
strikes Louis Lingg. the bomb maker,
slipped into his lodgings a heavy. sus-
picious looking box, three feet in length.
The box contained a large invoice of
dynamite. Its delivery at Lingg's lodg-
ings was the first immediate preparation
FOR H BLOOD RESULT
of FIVE days later. For many weeks pre-
vious Lingg had been purchasing and ex-
perimenting with dynamite as the paid
agent of one of the seven international
groups" but subsequent events showed
beyond any reasonable doubt that this
particular explosive made the bomb that
was heard round the world. The bomb,
with fifty others manufactured by Lingg
under the auspices of the International
Association, which furnished the money,
and Of which the celebrated defendants
were not members simply but leaders.
Next day, May L, the eight-hour strikes
began in earnest, and by nightfall when
the first intelligent estimates were ATTAIN
able, 10000 men walked the streets idle.
Promptly in the morning. Sunday, when
the churches throughout the city were re-
sounding with swelling h~osannas, the
stutfy little Bohemian hall on Emma
street was crowded with members of
THE LEHR WEIR vEREIN,
an inner circle of the omnipresent inter
national. Detailed plans for the near at
hand conflict with the police were submit
ted by Editor Engel, and listened to by
Spies, and, Fischer. These plans
were the ones followed almost to the letter
at the Haymarket, but the decision to do
so was not reached at the meeting. In
stead, it was determined to take action at
another gathering of the Lehr and Weir
in a larger hall and more central location,
to be assembled within twenty-four hours.
This was to be in Greif's hall Monday
night, MAY 3.
, 1887-11-11
THE CoHsPIRAIoRs AT WORK.
Preparing Dynamite Bombs For tn
Expected Meeting.

A darker picture IS not to be found in
history than this spectacle of four-score
murderous conspirators in the wretched
saloon basement remorsely plotting the
massacre that occurred not a hundred
yards distant before another midnight
passed. Rudolph ~Schnaubelt, the throw
er of the Haymarket bomb, was among
the eighty or more assasslns who com
posed the horrible meeting. Though ad-
iournment did not come till long after IL,
it vas not 7 o'clock next morning, Tues
day, when Louis Llngg, a member of this
identical armed section" opened the
chest of dynamite that had lain untouched
in his lodgings since four days before.
Under his expert directions, six of the
the previous night, quickly set to work
then and there filling globular shells with
dynamite.
Early as was the hour, Fischer was also
at work getting out the hand bills calling
the Haymarket mass meeting. The
hand bills last words were: "WorKing-
men, arm yourselves and appear in full
~torce!' What Spies, Schwab and the
other leaders were doing that day may be
partly inferred from the
BURNING APPEALS o RESISTANCE
and calls TO Armsp' that appeared in
their newspaper organs that evening.
''Ruhe," penned by Spies W hand,
stared out Of the ArJeiter Zeitung. After
the papers were off and their editors had
swallowed a hastY supper, it is known
that Spies, Parsons. Schwab, Fielden.
Fischer and other ruling spirits, mostly
members of the self same EARNED sec
tons that held the Grief $ hall conclave,
went into close session at the Interna
tional headquarters in the Arbeiter lei
tung building, where reports by messen
ger and telephone were received as the
moments sped.
Linng's crew of bomb makers were
still assiduouly at work. For some rea-
son he himself was unable to remain with
them all the time, and the evening found
him cursing their slow progress. 1t was
some time after 1870 p. m.-the hour
mentioned for the Haymarket meeting to
begin-wben Lingg put into a little trunk
what bombs were ready-sOme fifty or
sixty-and started with his burden for
the appointed rendezvous, an anarchist
saloon near by, known as Neff hall, So
ClybOurn avenue. He was met on the
way by a messenger who bad come to
hurry him along. The trunk was left
open in a passage-way of the saloon, and
without more ado men began dropping in
quietly, alone or in couples,
PoCKETING A BOMB OR W.
each, and vanishing into the darkness.
This celebrity may have somewhat molli-
fed Lingg, but his delay was not the only
stumbling block of the reds.
, 1887-11-11
AN INFAMOUS CIRCULAR.
A Document that Brings "reminiscences
Of the Days Of Danton.

Taking a street car direct to the Ar
better Zeitung Office, Spies, after a hur-
ried consultation with Schwab. Neebe
and others, decided to call the Haymarket
mass-mecting, and then wrote
The INFAMOUS REVENGE CIRCULAR
Twenty-Five hundred copies were issued
as quickly as printers could work, and
everything was now ripe for the murder
compact meeting that night in Greifs
basement, the same that had been called
by the Arbeiter Ze1tun0 that day and the
day before. In this connection the exact
wording of the circular, especially the
latter portion, foreshadowing the slaughter
of the morrow, the fatal 4th OF May, pos
sesses peculiar interest. Spies wrote
"REVENGEl REVENGEl
"WORKMEN, TO ARMS
Men of labor, this afternoon the
bloodbounds of your oppressors muir
dered six of yours brothers at Nc
Cormick's. Why did they murder them?
Because they dared to be dissatisfied with
, 1887-11-11
INCEPTION OF ANARCHlsM.
Societies Spreading Out From a Common
Center In Chicago.

A more striking procession of civic
events may never again be witnessed
than the one having its latest outcome to-
day.
The supposed absurdly theatrical dem
that took place in the streets of Chicago
not two winters ago., followed 500 after
ward by the picturesque, yet ominous,
Sunday gatherings of tatterdemalions, for
eigners and d~emagogues on the broad
, 1887-11-11
DARK C~ONCLAYEs

IOOuuS,
DARK CONCLAVEs
of wild idead but brainy, INSCRIPTIONS
leaders eagerly discussed as their long
coveted opportunity the Just beginning
development of the workingmen's con
certed movement for a uniform eight hour
day.
How the gigantic, peaceful strikes were
turned into riots, how the entire world
was startled by the blood chilling bomb
massacre in the HaYmarket, then the ma
jestic state trial, the amazing bravado Of
the one American defendant, the horribly
grotesque marriage of another one of
the prisoners-every detail of these
strange occurrences and the extraordi-
nary train succeeding, now presents itself
again as if the whole had passed but yes
terday.
The keynote of it all is found in the
platform OF
THE MYSTERIOUS l. A. A.
International Arbeiter (Workingmen's)
Association-of which organization Au-
gust Spies and his seven co-defendants
were leading members and upholders. In
the International platform it is urged
that the present system under which
property is owned by individuals should
be destroyed. and that all capital which has
been produced by labor should be trans
formed into common property by
force" Eighty groups o this danger
Gus association existed in the United
States, chiefly at the great in
dustrial c%enters, Chicago alone being
the i'll starred possessor of seven. Only
a portion of the members were armed.
yet the number of this class in Chicago
exceeded 1000, every man of whom at
tended regular military drills, had his own
rifle and revolver, and could obtain
DYNAMITE AND BOMBS
for the asking. The uuarmed members
of the groups were constantly in contact
with their armed brethren and in hearty
sympathy with their purposes and
their principles. 1t was this
compact, well disciplined l. A. A.
that had for its organs three now noted
hewspapers-the Arbeiter Zeitumg, the
Alarm and the anarchist. Excepting
handsome, youthful Louis Lingg, who,
though taking a conspicuous part, was
a mere acting agent, each of the eight
Haymarket defendants, vas directly con-
nected with one of these papers.
, 1887-11-11

nearly a thousand uncouth men and
women of the slums, headed by banners of
black and red, traversed the choice resi-
dence avenues wildly yelling and soothing
at the well-dressed people who crowded to
the windows, anxious to learn the cause
of tumnlt.